Who Did Patrick's Homework?

Patrick never did his homework. "Too boring," he said. He played baseball and basketball instead. His teachers told him, "Patrick! do your homework or you won't learn a thing." And it's true, sometimes he did feel like a ding-a-Ling. But what could he do? He hated homework.

Then one day, his cat was playing with a little doll and he grabbed it away. To his surprise, it wasn't a doll at all, but a man of the tiniest size. He had a little wool shirt with old fashioned trousers and a high tall hat much like a witch's. He yelled, "Save me! Don't give me back to that cat. I'll grant you a wish, I promise you that."

Patrick couldn't believe how lucky he was! Here was the answer to all of his problems. So he said, "Only if you do all my homework until the end of the semester, that's 35 days. If you do a good enough job, I could even get A's."

The little man's face wrinkled like a dishcloth thrown in the hamper. He kicked his legs and pursed his lips, "Oh, am I cursed! But I'll do it."

And true to his word, that little elf began to do Patrick's homework. Except there was one glitch. The elf didn't always know what to do and he needed help. "Help me! Help me!" he'd say. And Patrick would have to help in whatever way.

"I don't know this word," the elf squeeked while reading Patrick's homework. "Get me a dictionary. No, what's even better. Look up the word and sound it out by each letter."

When it came to maths, Patrick was out of luck. "What are times tables?" the elf shrieked. "We elves never need that. And addition and subtraction and division and fractions? Here, sit down beside me, you simply must guide me."

Elves knew nothing of human history, to them it's a mystery. So the Little elf, already a shouter, just got louder. "Go to the library, I need books. More and more books. And you can help me read them, too."

As a matter of fact, every day in every way that little elf was a nag! Patrick was working harder than ever and it was a drag! He was staying up nights, had never felt so weary, and was going to school with his eyes puffed and bleary.

Finally, the Last day of school arrived and the elf was free to go. Since there was no more homework, he quietly and slyly slipped out the back door.

Patrick got his A's and his classmates were amazed. His teachers smiled and were full of praise. And his parents? They wondered what had happened to Patrick. He was now the model kid: cleaned his room, did his chores, was cheerful, never rude, like he had developed a whole new attitude.

You see, in the end Patrick still thought he'd made that tiny man do all his homework. But I'll share a secret, just between you and me. It wasn't the elf, Patrick had done it himself!

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